Leeds United have turned their attention to Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope after missing out on Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, with the Irishman set to join Brentford.
Leeds had made an enquiry to sign Kelleher from Liverpool, but Bayer Leverkusen have struck a deal for Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, which has seen Brentford move quickly to land Kelleher’s signature.
Having been rated at a whopping fee of £25m or more, Leeds fans have been left stunned at the bargain fee Brentford will now pay. It is believed an initial £12.5m fee, that could rise to £18m, has been agreed.
Leeds are set to miss out on Kelleher, then. But The Whites are quickly refocusing their attention on Nick Pope at Newcastle, with Leeds hoping Pope becomes available as the Toon target James Trafford.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
What Graeme Bailey has said about Nick Pope amid Leeds links
Newcastle are eyeing a £30m deal for Trafford and that could mean Pope becomes available, unless he chooses to revert to back-up under Eddie Howe. Pope is entering the final year of his £100k-a-week deal.
Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that there is a good chance Pope leaves Newcastle during the summer window, with Pope made aware for the last 12 months that Howe wants to sign a goalkeeper.
Bailey told us: “He [Pope] is on the list but he isn’t cheap wages wise. There is a good chance [that Pope leaves Newcastle], he has known for 12 months that Eddie Howe wants to sign a new number one.”
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
Nick Pope’s Premier League numbers and Charlie Taylor praise
Pope has spent the last nine years in the Premier League after joining Burnley from Charlton in 2016. He has gone on to play more than 200 times in England’s top flight and earned himself 10 England caps.
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During Jordan Pickford’s reign as England’s first-choice goalkeeper, not many have come close to getting past the Everton goalkeeper but Pope has probably come closest. Now 33, he will want one last move.
Nick Pope’s Premier League stats:
Name Clubs Games Minutes Wins Clean Sheets Goals conceded Minutes per goal
Nick Pope BurnleyNewcastle 221 19782 83 75 252 78.5
Leeds could present that opportunity, for a player Charlie Taylor once described as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. But if Newcastle sign Trafford, a return to Burnley seems just as likely for Pope.